Display head for windshield service unit



Oct. 17, 1961 e. w. WYANT DISPLAY HEAD FOR WINDSHIELD SERVICE UNIT Filed May 31, 1960 United States Patent 3,005,192 DISPLAY HEAD FOR WINDSHIELD SERVECE UNIT Gerald W. Wyant, 4343 Mayfair Ave., Montreal, Quebec, Canada Filed May 31, 1960, Ser. No. 32,699 2 Claims. (Cl. 340-366) This invention relates to a display head for windshield service units and like units used in public service stations.

Units of this type, which are commonly used at the present time in automotive service stations and the like comprise generally a paper towel dispenser consisting of a plain unadcrned box.

It is the object of the present invention to provide windshield service units and the like with a display head, so

that the unit can be made to serve an advertising function.

The invention consists essentially of a cover fitted on the unit and carrying a lamp; a hood of a translucent material is secured on the cover. The hood has printed on it a sign which it may be desired to display, such as the trade mark of the gasoline company or the name of the service firm.

The lamp may be of the flashing type so as to direct greater attention to the device.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a windshield service unit fitted with a display head according ot the invention.

FIG. 2 is a section of the display head along line 2--2 of FIG. 3, showing part of the unit.

FIG. 3 is a section along line 3--3 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a plan view with the hood removed.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section showing a modification.

Referring to the drawings, the windshield service unit consists of a box having free upper edges 11 and open at the top. Paper towels 12 rest on a horizontal portion 13 which has a dispensing slot 14 for removing the towels. The front of the unit has an opening 15 from which the towels are taken out. The opening on the lower part of the unit is closed by a swinging panel 16 with the lower part of the unit serving as a waste receptacle. A pocket 17 on the outside of the unit holds a bottle of windshield cleaning fluid. The unit may be mounted in any suitable way (not shown) for example, on a post or pedestal or on the gasoline pump. The structure described above is of a conventional nature.

In accordance with the invention the unit is provided with a cover comprising a plate 20 having a border forming a downwardly extending peripheral flange 21 and an upstanding peripheral flange 22 disposed inwardly of flange 21 so as to form a shoulder 23. The cover is rectangular, and the portions of flange 22 on the long sides are raised above the portions on the short sides. The cover is hinged to the unit at 24 by its flange 21, and flange 21 fits over the box edges 11. A chain 25 limits the pivotal movement of the cover. A hood 39 of translucent plastic material fits on the shoulder 23 and is secured by sheet metal screws 31 to the flange 22. The hood may be hinged for quick servicing of the light, as shown at 26 in FIG. 5, and held resiliently in the opposite side by a projection 27 engaging a hole in flange 22. A rubber gasket 32 is preferably provided on the shoulder 23 and the hood rests on the gasket.

The plate 20 has mounted thereon a bracket 46 having a central upstanding portion 41 and two oppositely directed horizontal portions 42 and 43. Portion 43 is bolted or welded to the plate 20 and portion 42 has secured on it a socket 44 which receives a flashing bulb 4 5. The electric wire 46 leading to the socket passes through a rubber sheathed hole 47 in plate 20.

The invention is limited not to the features of the above embodiments, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A display head for a service unit comprising a dispensing cabinet having an open top, a cover for said dispensing cabinet, the said cover comprising a fiat cover plate, a peripheral flange about said cover plate and extending above and below the plane of the plate, that portion of the peripheral flange located below the plate being outwardly offset with respect to the portion of the flange located above the plate and forming a shoulder therebetween, a hinge connecting one side of the outwardly oflset portion of the flange with the adjacent top edge of the said dispensing cabinet permitting the said cover to fit over the open end of the cabinet, a bracket secured to the upper surface of said plate, a lamp mounted on said bracket and connected to a source of electric current, and a translucent hood fitted over said lamp and the upwardly extending portion of the peripheral flange, the said cover resting on the shoulder formed between the lower and upper portions of the flange and secured to the latter portion.

2. A display head according to claim 1, the said translucent hood is seated on a gasket secured to the shoulder on the peripheral flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,491,094 Du Franc Dec. 13, 1949 2,517,119 Leduc Aug. 1, 1950 2,563,693 Russell Aug. 7, 1951 2,690,552 Kiibus Sept. 28, 1954 2,804,611 Craddock Aug. 27, 1957 

